Roma launched 22 shots today, six on goal at the Stadio Olimpico as the outfit continues to climb back into next season’s European discussion.  Francesco Totti’s second-half goal ensured a 1-0 victory; it was the club’s third straight win over Fiorentina in Rome.

The Giallorossi now sit 14th in the Serie A table, but only six points out of a UEFA Cup bid.  Roma has won three straight — a 1-0 win versus Lazio in the Rome derby and then last weekend’s 3-0 away win at Lecce. 

Fiorentina now have five away defeats on the year.  Read more... (238 words, estimated 57 secs reading time)

With media speculation pointing AC Milan’s transfer targets mainly towards Lyon and its forward Karim Benzema, Milan’s VP Adriano Galliani has noted recently to media that he will go after Samuel Eto’o during the January transfer period.

The 27-year-old Eto’o was rumoured to Milan last summer, but it appears Galliani has put the pressure on Eto’o’s Catalan club.  He noted to media, “I’m in love with a forward who is not Benzema, it’s Samuel Eto’o. I would sign Eto’o if I could, but really we’re talking about a dream.”  Read more... (206 words, estimated 49 secs reading time)

The 21-year-old on loan from Internazionale scored via penalty kick today to help Cagliari defeat Fiorentina in Serie A action.

The forward who is of Italian-Polish decent is quickly rising up the ranks of Italy’s top attacking players.  He has five goals thus far and looks like a lock to end with a double-digit goal tally on the season.  He has made 8 starts and 3 substitutions on the season.

Has has six goals with Italy’s U-21 squad.

Other Italian stars born in 1987 include:  Read more... (145 words, estimated 35 secs reading time)

• Antonio Candreva (midfielder on Italy’s Olympic and U-21 squads)

With yet another Serie A loss on the books, this time at the hands of AC Milan, Chievo looks ready to return back to Serie B after the completion of the 2008-2009 campaign.  The club has lost five straight Serie A matches and seven out of 8 with those defeats coming at the hands of Catania, Fiorentina, Cagliari, Lazio, Palermo, Juventus, and finally AC Milan.

The club has only managed six goals in the first 12 matches. 

A closer look at Ceo follows:  Read more... (278 words, estimated 1:07 mins reading time)

The 29-year-old attacking midfielder/forward’s three-goal effort against Torino FC in today’s Serie A action propelled Calcio Catania to the 3-2 victory.  The well traveled Mascara has seen action at a host of Italian clubs over his career.  Today’s hat-trick is surely one of his career achievements.

After Mascara’s second goal gave Catania a 2-1 lead late in the first half, the 18,000 supporters at the Stadio Angelo Massimino felt confident that three points would be secured.

Sadly, Torino equalized early in the second on a penalty goal from Nicola Amoruso.  The match looked destined to end 2-2 until Mascara capped his Man-of-the-Match performance with his third goal in the 80th minute.  Read more... (227 words, estimated 54 secs reading time)

After eleven Serie A matches, Napoli is tied with AC Milan on 23 points and is only one point behind first place Internazionale. 

The Partenopei have used a strong defense and timely goals thus far.  Goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo recorded four saves in his shutout victory over Sampdoria on Sunday.

In the 2-0 victory, goals came from Daniele Mannini and substitute Marcelo Zalayeta.  Zalayeta, the 29-year-old Uruguayan, has scored two goals in eight league appearances.  Fellow Uruguayan, Walter Gargano, has also played a pivotal role for Napoli.  The 24-year-old midfielder arrived in 2007.  Read more... (127 words, estimated 30 secs reading time)

Serie A Tickets now offers up an in-depth look at the transfers who arrived in Italy for the 2008-2009 campaign.

1. Olof Mellberg – The centre back arrived at Juventus this summer via Aston Villa. He was excited to join the club using the Bosman ruling to move.  He signed a three-year deal and so far has started 7 league matches and come on a substitute in two more.  The 31-year-old Swedish international has the right recipe of international and domestic experience to keep the supporters happy.  He was a favorite of the supporters while at Villa.  Grade: B+  Read more... (277 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

Of the eight, AC Milan vs. Lazio appears to be the marquee match-up.  With AC Milan invested in successful Serie A and UEFA Cup campaigns, Lazio has an opportunity to surprise the Italian giants.  Also on tap are:

Internazionale vs. Genoa, Roma vs. Bologna, Sampdoria vs. Empoli, Udinese vs. Reggina, Fiorentina vs. Torino, Napoli vs. Salernitana, and Juventus vs. Catania.    
     
Serie B sides include Salernitana and Empoli.  Empoli was relegated from Serie A last season leaving Salernitana as the lone Cinderalla at the dance.  Salernitana won promotion to Serie B last season after capturing the Serie C title.

Who will advance?  Read more... (125 words, estimated 30 secs reading time)

The 33-year-old Juventus striker continues to compete at an elite level.  It is not so much a question of can he keep this maddening scoring pace up, but more a question of when will the drop off occur?  At 33, Alessandro Del Piero is entering a period noted for decline with many of the globe’s greatest attacking players, but after his recent brace against Real Madrid in the group stages of the 2008-2009 UEFA Champions League, his looming decline seems to be put on hold yet again.  Read more... (197 words, estimated 47 secs reading time)